How should I prove unpaid construction fees?

Hello. This is a civil specialist attorney at Daeryun Law Firm.

The key to winning in a case of unpaid construction fees is to legally prove the "fact of construction performance" and "non-payment of fees."

It is commonly thought that a lawsuit for unpaid construction fees is impossible without a contract, but under our Civil Act, a contract for work is a "non-formal contract" that does not require any special form.

That is, even without a written contract, the contract is validly established as long as there is mutual agreement between the parties.

Therefore, instead of a contract, you must systematically collect indirect evidence to support this.

Text messages or KakaoTalk messages discussing the construction schedule and amount, quotations, material purchase receipts, and labor cost payment records can all serve as excellent evidence.

Circumstances in which the client checked the construction progress or requested modifications can be decisive evidence to prove the contractual relationship.

Also, you must secure before-and-after photos, on-site videos, and supervision records that show the construction was actually completed.

In disputes over unpaid construction fees, the other party often refuses payment citing "incomplete construction" or "defects," so it is essential to organize materials that can objectively prove the completion rate.

(*Completion rate: The amount of funds required for the portion of construction completed to date, calculated based on the progress of construction)

If you are having difficulty responding due to insufficient evidence, please verify the validity of the evidence through a legal review by a civil specialist attorney and prepare practical measures to recover claims, such as provisional attachment or completion rate appraisal.

Daeryun Law Firm provides legal assistance tailored to the client's situation, so we recommend that you check the appropriate response procedure through consultation.